NE knocks Thai door for investment

Guwahati, Sep 28 (UNI) The investment starved North East India has started knocking on Thailand's door as that government is organising an NE investment summit at Bangkok from Monday.

A 150-member business delegates, besides, five chief ministers and more than 12 ministers would try to sell their respective states in a bid too woo investment to the NE.

''Do not expect much. But this is an earnest attempt to get the Thai businessmen while ours will be exploring the possibility of expanding their business,'' said Assam Industry and Power Minister Pradyut Bardoloi.

He would lead the Assam delegation comprising two ministers, five officials and 92 businessmen who have been coordinated by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

The Bangkok meet was a follow up of the June visit of a Thai delegation as well as the Thai Commerce Minister. The whole venture was promoted by the Ministry of North Eastern Region with active support from Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of External Affairs as part of the Centre's 'Look East' policy.

''There will be 200 Thai companies which would attend the four-day meet where there will be one-to-one meeting with the businessmen of both countries also,'' he said.

The North East is eyeing a slice of the 1 million Thailand had invested in India over the last six years. ''We are interested in construction, power, tourism, inland water, Agri food, handloom and rubber industry,'' he said.

DoNER Minister Mani Sankar Aiyar and Mr Ashwini Kumar, Union Minister of State for Commerce would also attend the conclave.

Further, the MEA had also lined up a three-day meet on the 'Challenges of Regional Economic Cooperation' from October 7 to 9 while the Assam Development Forum, a joint body of the Assam Government and Asian Development Bank, is holding another conclave from October 29 to attract investment.

''We are trying to get investment because we cannot wait for peace to beckon investment,'' Mr Bardoloi said.

Incidentally, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is now in New York on a similar mission.